THE PERFECT MATCH

I want to start my first post dealing with careers by putting things into perspective. For me, it was really helpful to determine what my end goal of having a career was and to stay focused on this throughout my job search. For our family, the end goal is twofold. In the social sense, my soldier and I want to feel that we are contributing to society in a meaningful way through our careers. In the financial sense, we never want to worry about money, so our careers are the avenue to which we can live comfortably. So as I looked at future potential careers, I constantly asked myself if I would like I am contributing to society and if I would make enough to put our family where we wanted to be financially. Everyone will have different end goals so it is important to define what yours and stay true to them as you navigate your job search.

The best career advice I have thus received was this: Figure out how to do what you like in an industry that is growing.

I particularly love this advice for two reasons. The first is that says what you like, not what you love. Is this contrary to any career advice any millennial has ever received? Yes, and perhaps that is why I am so inclined to discern it. Rarely do people know what their life’s passion is at 22 years old. Yet, we put so much pressure on ourselves to figure out what we love throughout our 4+ years in college, for the sole purpose of pursuing it as a career after graduation. Instead of trying to narrow our passion down to one particular thing and focusing all of our energy on that one topic, focus on a variety of things that you like. This leaves several doors of opportunity open and can create an environment that leaves you more apt to consider options you didn’t even know existed or would interest you. Another aspect I want to bring to light is the fact that a career is more than what your day to day tasks are. When you are looking into jobs consider how they will affect your lifestyle and loved ones. Money isn’t everything, but it does sustain our wellbeing, so it is something; will you be making enough to survive and do the things you want to do? Will your future job allow you the flexibility needed to see your loved ones, while they are still awake? Finding the right career for you is all about finding the right balance. Don’t allow yourself to limit your options right away, keep an open mind and focus on the end goal(s) you and your family have.

The second part of this advice that I revere is to look for career opportunities in a growing field. If you have what you would consider your dream job, but the industry is diminishing, the company you work for will eventually be affected. Even if you are kicking butt and taking names, your job will at some point be on the line as your company adjusts to the decreasing market size. So you have to ask yourself, is it worth having your “dream job” if you are going to be up at night worrying about if you will even have a job tomorrow. A growing company will have new opportunities as it grows, allowing you to move throughout the company. Again, if you aren’t so focused on doing “that one thing that is your life passion” you are more likely to be open to new experiences. Maybe, one of the doors that is opened as your company expands is better than any job you could have ever imagined.

Finally, I want to share that the best thing that I ever did while trying to determine what my career would look like was surrender my future to the Lord. It was and still is liberating to know that the God of the universe has a plan for my life, far better than anything I can imagine, and will provide for me.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

DISCLAIMER: I do not own this photo, nor present it as my own work.

#CAREER